Silver accolade for University following Armed Forces support
THE University of Chichester has been recognised by the Ministry of Defence for its commitment to members of the Armed Forces.
Military officials will present the institution with its Employer Recognition Scheme silver award for supporting reservists, cadets, instructors, veterans, and the families of service personnel. The award, which comes just six months after the University was given the MoD’s bronze decoration, will be given at a ceremony on HMS Victory in Portsmouth next month.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Catherine Harper, above left, said staff and students at Chichester are extremely proud to fly the flag in support of the nation’s serving men and women. She added: “It is an honour to be granted this prestigious award in testimony of our dedication and commitment to our Armed Forces who play an integral role in the safety of our country.
“The experience and loyalty that reservists and veterans bring to our institution, through leadership, team ethic, and communication skills, is immense. The University of Chichester is always open to Armed Forces personnel who want to partner or study with us.”
The MoD’s Employer Recognition Scheme, which was launched in 2014, rewards employers with bronze, silver, and gold accolades for advocating support to the military. The University was presented with the second-tier award after meeting specialist criteria and signing the Armed Forces Covenant.
The agreement demonstrates its commitment to the men and women, and families, who have and continue to serve their country. These include Chichester’s own employees who serve as reservists such as Dr Sarah Needham-Beck, above, a communications operator with 71 (City of London) Yeomanry Signal Regiment and research fellow at the University’s Institute of Sport.
She said: “Being a reservist has given me the opportunity to learn new skills, knowledge, and enhance my personal qualities, and I now feel more self-assured. The University is extremely supportive and I’ve been able to apply many of these skills in both my civilian and military careers.”
The ceremony for the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme will be aboard HMS Victory in Portsmouth on Wednesday 5 September. Speaking of the award, University director of human resources Elizabeth Whitaker said: “As a forces-friendly employer, we are extremely proud to have received this recognition.
“Many of our employees are Veterans or Reservists and we recognise the exceptional skills and talent they bring to roles in the University. We continue to enhance our employment practices to encourage the appointment of service personnel working closely with the Armed Forces Community to demonstrate our “ongoing commitment.”
To find out about the government’s Defence Employer Recognition Scheme go to www.gov.uk/mod. For more the University’s commitment to the Armed Forces go to www.chi.ac.uk/about-us. Alternatively for more about Chichester’s military reservists visit www.chi.ac.uk/news/university-flies-flag-armed-forces-reserves-day.